He was a professor of zoology at the University of Oslo from 1852 to 1874, having previously been a lector since 1847. An avid hunter and sportsman, he published the book Jagten i Norge (1845) as well as works about livestock, oyster culvitation and beekeeping. He was among the founders of the Centralforeningen for Udbredelse af Legemsøvelser og Vaabenbrug, a precursor to the Norwegian Confederation of Sports, in 1861.